What should I do if I see an Asian Hornet and how can I tell if it is one?
Already, the insects have decimated honey production in parts of France and Italy, as the breed is capable of killing 50 honey bees a day.
For years, experts have kept an eye on the species, but the Jersey Asian Hornet Group - leading specialists in the insects - have raised the alert as they remarked sighting 262 queen Asian hornets by 11 April - a 1,090 per cent year-on-year increase in spotting the hornet, as reported by The Observer.
Like bees, the sting of an Asian hornet can cause painful and potentially life threatening allergic reactions, but these insects also bode a wider risk to the UK's insect population.
Here's all you need to know about Asian hornets and what to do if you spot one.
What is an Asian hornet?
Also known as the yellow-legged hornet, these insects have caused concerns for beekeepers in the UK because they prey on a wide range of insects, including honey bees. Areas with a high density of Asian hornet nests present a risk to the surrounding area when it comes to insect diversity. They also present a health risk to those who are allergic to hornet or wasp stings.
These hornets tend to be far smaller than those found in Europe. While European hornets are between 30 and 35 mm in length, Asian hornets tend to be 25 mm long. Their abdomens are mostly black except for the fourth abdominal segment, which has a yellow band. They also have yellow legs and an orange face.
Their nests tend to be high up in trees or man made structures. As well as hunting honey bees and other insects, the hornets feed on fruits and flowers.
How did they get in the UK?
Asian hornets are believed to have first arrived in France in a cargo of pottery from China in 2004, by accident. They have since spread rapidly across Europe and have since been spotted in 15 different countries.
They were first spotted in the UK in 2016, in the town of Tetbury, Gloucestershire. After 10 days of intensive searching, a nest was found and destroyed.
The UK has confirmed a total of 147 sightings of the yellow-legged hornet since then, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), including a total of 110 nests which have all been destroyed.
DEFRA added that there had only been two confirmed sightings of the yellow-legged hornet in 2025, per a report last updated on 27 March.
What to do if you see one?
DEFRA have asked any members of the public who believe they have spotted an Asian hornet to report them to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEAH). Using a form on the UKCEAH website, people can send photos of the insect and the exact location of sighting.
There is also an Asian Hornet Watch app, where people can report any 'sightings of concern' to the government's National Bee Unit.
The UK Non-Native Species Secretariat have warned people not to disturb an active nest in case they get hurt.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
British butterfly species facing extinction
Butterfly numbers have plunged by nearly a fifth in the past 50 years, official figures show. The population of the heath fritillary has fallen by 89 per cent since 1976, statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reveal. Other species including including wood white, small-bordered fritillary, grayling and pearl-bordered fritillary have seen declines of 70 per cent to 80 per cent. The figures show that abundance across all species has declined 18 per cent in the UK, and 19 per cent in England, over the long term. Experts blamed the destruction of butterfly habitats for the drop in numbers. Many butterfly species have not recovered from declines experienced in the late 1970s caused by the knock-on effects of the drought conditions in 1976. However, a lack of suitable habitat in the decades that followed has contributed to the persistent decline ever since. Butterflies found on farmland have declined by around a third in both the UK and England, with those that require the specific habitat to thrive seeing falls in abundance of 42 per cent in the UK and 47 per cent in England. Woodland butterflies have fared even worse with declines of more than half (54 per cent) since the 1970s when monitoring began, with woodland specialist species declining by 55 per cent in the UK and 57 per cent in England. Across the 50 species monitored across the UK, 44 per cent have suffered declines since 1976, while 47 per cent of the 49 species assessed in England have seen drops since then.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Butterflies in long term decline across England and UK, official figures show
Butterfly numbers have fallen by nearly a fifth since the 1970s, with species that need specific habitats faring even worse, official figures show. Conservationists warn falls in butterfly numbers are a signal of problems in the wider state of the environment, and reveal what is happening to many other insects that are a key part of ecosystems. The latest annual update on butterfly monitoring published by the Environment Department (Defra) reveal abundance across all species has declined 18% in the UK and 19% in England over the long term. Specialists which need specific habitats such as flower-rich grassland, heathland and woodland clearings to thrive have seen numbers decline by more than a third (39%) across the UK, and 25% in England. And nearly half (46%) of individual species that are restricted to certain habitats have seen declines in the UK, while 50% have seen numbers fall in England. Across the UK heath fritillary has seen the most severe declines since 1976 with an 89% drop in abundance, while other habitat specialists including wood white, small-bordered fritillary, grayling and pearl-bordered fritillary have seen declines of 70% to 80%. Experts said the main causes for the declines in habitat specialist butterflies are the loss, fragmentation and degradation of those landscapes, with more intensive agriculture also contributing to the drop in numbers. Many have not recovered from declines experienced in the late 1970s, which were partly as a result of the knock-on effects of the drought conditions in 1976, but a lack of suitable habitat after that is the main driver for persistent declines and lack of recovery since. Butterflies found on farmland have declined by around a third in both the UK and England, with those that require the specific habitat to thrive seeing falls in abundance of 42% in the UK and 47% in England. Woodland butterflies have fared even worse with declines of more than half (54%) since the 1970s when monitoring began, with woodland specialist species declining by 55% in the UK and 57% in England. Butterflies have also seen short term declines on farmland, with numbers falling 12% across the UK and 11% in England over the past decade, the figures show, while woodland butterflies have shown no significant change over the same period. But the findings also show some specialist species are on the increase, including black hairstreak, silver-spotted skippers, large heath, dark green fritillary, silver-washed fritillary and purple emperor. Officials said some recent increases could be attributed to targeted conservation action, while some species are benefiting from climate change which is allowing them to expand their range. Across more 'generalist' species, which are not restricted to specific habitats, there has been no change over the long or short term, but the fortunes of individual species have differed wildly. Small tortoiseshell butterflies have seen falls of 86% between 1976 and 2024, while wall and white-letter hairstreak butterflies have seen almost as severe declines. But ringlet butterflies have increased by 273%, and holly blue and comma butterflies have also seen some of the largest increases in abundance over five decades, the figures show. Across the 50 species monitored across the UK, 44% have suffered declines since 1976, while 47% of the 49 species assessed in England have seen drops since then. Some 28% of individual species have increased across the UK and 24% have increased in England, the statistics show.
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Wales Online
People heard squeaking near a stream and the answer was impossibly cute
People heard squeaking near a stream and the answer was impossibly cute Idris weighed less than a can of pop, could not open his eyes, and is the smallest otter ever rescued by the UK Wild Otter Trust Idris the tiny otter (Image: UK Wild Otter Trust) A tiny otter weighing less than a can of pop has survived against the odds after members of the public in a Welsh community heard him crying near a roadside. The Eurasian otter cub, weighing just 340g, was found near Bala in Gwynedd. People heard his high-pitched squeaks near a small stream with his mother nowhere to be found. It's thought she is likely to have been killed on a nearby road. At under seven weeks old the otter's eyes were still closed making his chances of survival without his mother extremely slim. Locals who found the otter made contact with the UK Wild Otter Trust and officers from the charity went to the scene to rescue him. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . For the next few days Idris, as he has been named, was kept alive on milk until he was strong enough to make the journey to the charity's care. Under expert hands Idris was slowly weaned onto fish before being transferred to the charity's Specialist Otter Rehabilitation Centre in North Devon. There he met two young otters close to his age. One of them had wandered into the flamingo habitat at Colchester Zoo although nobody knows quite how he got there. 'These cases are incredibly rare,' said Dave Webb, founder and CEO of the UK Wild Otter Trust, which is run entirely by volunteers. "For an otter cub so young and so underweight to survive without its mother is remarkable. Idris has shown unbelievable strength and now he has the best chance of living wild again. Article continues below "Idris is the smallest cub we've rescued who has managed to survive so for all of us at the centre it's a real victory to see him out of the woods and thriving.' Over the coming months Idris will undergo a long rehabilitation process, the charity added. Idris the otter with his new friend, a teddy bear (Image: UK Wild Otter Trust) The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is the only otter species native to the UK. It has been in the UK for millions of years and is a member of the Mustelid family, which also includes the badger, mink, weasels, stoats, martens, and polecats. They are found as far west as Ireland, as far east as China, as far south as North Africa, and as far north as the Arctic Circle. According to the RSPCA if baby otters have their eyes closed it's because they are too young to go above ground on their own. According to the UK Wild Otter Trust: "Otters are protected by law. It is illegal to hunt them, trap them or disturb them. The otter receives the highest protection possible as a European protected species – and its holts are protected too. Article continues below "Unfortunately, even though the species has made a distinct comeback and is now found often in our rivers, wild otters rarely live beyond four years of age. The oldest recorded otter reached around 19 years of age but this is exceptional. "Reports now state that otters inhabit every county in the UK – great news for the otter – but our river systems still require extensive habitat management to restore them to a healthy level that can sustain fish stocks and wildlife."
